The San Diego County Water Authority has resumed its rebate program for people replacing grass with synthetic turf. The water-saving program had been suspended when reports suggested the turf might pose a lead exposure risk. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

The California Coastal Commission is expected to decide Wednesday morning whether to approve conditions for the construction of the largest desalination project in the country. Poseidon Resources wants to build the plant in Carlsbad. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

The San Diego County Water Authority has resumed its rebate program for people replacing grass with synthetic turf. The water-saving program had been suspended when reports suggested the turf might pose a lead exposure risk. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

Are employers in California required to ensure that employees take their breaks? Is the Mount Soledad cross unconstitutional? And what privileges does membership to a club or team entail? We'll discuss a number of legal issues with KPBS Legal Analyst Dan Eaton.

The Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, banning gays in the military from serving openly, has been a rule for 14 years. A coalition of legislators and retired military are seeking to repeal the act and allow gays to serve openly in the military for the first time.

What's causing the increase in rape cases in San Diego County? Local police are seeing an increase in rape cases involving women who are too intoxicated to say "no". The rise in rape cases that involve binge drinking is one of the factors causing the increase in rapes overall. Host Alan Ray speaks to Dave Hendren, with the District Attorney's office, and Jim Lange, from SDSU, about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol, and to talk about what can be done to reduce the number of rape by intoxication cases.

California's budget stalemate has been making headlines for weeks, but lawmakers returning to Sacramento this week will be taking up another challenging task, voting on hundreds of bills before session ends at the end of the month.
We're joined on Morning Edition by independent Sacramento political consultant Leo McElroy.